Bead by Bead, a new book, tells the story of how Monkey Biz transformed South African beadwork and became a model for grassroots empowerment. Barbara Jackson, Shirley Fintz, and Mataphelo Ngaka founded Monkey Biz to market beadwork created by 450 disadvantaged Xhosa women who live in Khayelitsha, an impoverished township in Cape Town. The beaders work at home so they can look after their families and avoid transportation costs, but all proceeds go directly to them. Their amusing beaded dollies have been exhibited at Sotheby’s.
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In Her Shoes. The profits from this boutique go to
the Global Fund for Women. Shop for shoes from
ballet flats to boots (priced from $30 to $300 a pair),
bags and belts—or treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure.
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Kepler’s Books and Magazines. If you say “The Global Fund for Women” as you buy a book in this store or via their website, Kepler’s will donate 10% of your purchase to that organization, which is the recipient of 100% of the author’s royalties from Women Who Light the Dark.
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Laxmi Nakarmi, is the proprietor of Sisters’ Creations, Perfect Corn-Husk
Handicraft in Kathmandu. She was trained by Swati in Kathmandu, which is featured in Women Who Light the Dark’s Nepal chapter, and is a creative entrepreneur
whose product line includes dolls, key chain fobs and Christmas tree ornaments--in fact, almost anything you would like her to design from this eco-conscious material.
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Baskets. Katie Doyle co-founded Virunga Artisans to
benefit craftspeople in Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic
of Congo who live near the Volcanoes National Park
where the last 700 mountain gorillas reside. The fair trade
income from their baskets, carvings, coffee and tea provide
the artisans with a livelihood that makes it unnecessary to intrude on the gorilla’s habitat.
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When you shop for gifts via free trade sources, you support
economic equality, help end child labor, and empower women and
girls abroad. The Shop For Changestore
is full of products created by talented craftswomen who live
in areas of conflict and post-conflict. The sponsors, US
Women Without Borders and the Women's Funding Network, offer
many practical ways to make a difference in the lives of
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Give
the gift that furthers peace. The
Jerusalem Candle of Hope was
made by women in Israel and Palestine who are working together
in an unusual joint venture. Embedded in the wax are olive leaves
and indigenous, ever lasting flowers; an embroidered bag contains
a tea light candle that fits inside the larger candle and extends
its life. The gift is exclusively available
from The Amber Chand Collection, which supports craftswomen in areas
of conflict and post-conflict, helping generate income, dialogue, reconciliation
and understanding.
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The “Sweatshop-free
Sneaker has arrived from the Best little union shop in Jakarta,
Indonesia,” Global Exchange advertises:
“Help us make history.” Their stores operate according
to Fair Trade criteria and offer a corporate gift program.
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National
Geographic has just introduced its first Home Collection,
2500 pieces that the Society’s explorers and photographers
have collected. There are indigenous crafts, linens, fine furnishings,
maps, and all kinds of treasures. All proceeds go to preserve cultures
of the world.
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Shop
on line at iGive and
they will donate a percentage of your purchase to your favorite
charity. More than 500 retailers participate, including Amazon,
Gap, eBay, FTD, Good Guys, Hallmark, Lane Bryant, Horchow, JC
Penney, Macy’s. Office Depot, and others like AOL, United
Airlines, The New York Times.
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Bead For Life. Three American women, Torkin Wakefield, Ginny Jordan and Devin Hibbard, stopped to admire Millie’s recycled paper beads in a market in Uganda. Millie confided that there was no market for her beads so she earned $1/day working in a rock quarry. All three bought beads, and in 2004, they launched Bead for Life, which has been featured by NBC and O Magazine. Now 600+ beaders earn a regular income. Beautiful necklaces and bracelets are sold via house parties. You could have one!
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Oxfam offers great gifts! $90 will train three women in
gender rights and community activism; $120 will start a village savings group; $100 will help survivors of domestic
violence start a soap business; $20 will give a girl two school
uniforms.
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Abayas. Gauzy, long coats like the ones Paola wears
for many of her public appearances are created by Anat, a local women’s embroidery group in Damascus, Syria and marketed by the nonprofit
Eos Group, an affiliate of UNESCO’s Global Alliance for
Cultural Diversity.
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Upstairs on 7th sells clothing by exclusive designers, accessories and jewelry---and every month, selects a non-profit in the Washington DC area to receive a portion of their sales. They also collect in-kind and monetary donations for that group. If you know an organization that benefits women and children, suggest it to Ricki Peltzman, the owner!
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Tapestries of Hope. Paola’s friend, award-winning indie filmmaker Michealene Risley, is making a documentary about Zimbabwe’s Girl Child Network , which is featured in Women Who light the Dark. The film will make the girls’ heroic movement to end child rape known throughout the world, inspire support for them and model effective activism for others. You can help fund the film by purchasing a Tapestries of Hope jewelry designed by Janelle Gibson: hammered-silver squares stamped with the word Future. MORE
Next time you settle down with your
café latte at Starbucks, know
that the company will devote part of the money you spent to educating
kids in the very places you see on coffee labels in their stores:
Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Guatemala, Ethiopia. Starbucks invested
$1million in schools in their coffee growing areas last year. Not
bad for a company where 1/3 of the VP+ level officers are women.
If you are in one of their stores in 30 countries right now, use
their wireless connections and click
here to read their Annual Report on Corporate Social Responsibility.
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Three impressive nonprofit organizations market everything from purses to pillowcases covered with folkloric Indian embroidery created by traditional craftswomen in Gujarat, a state plagued by poverty, floods and droughts.
The Women's Edge Fair Trade Shopping Program allows you to purchase beautiful jewelry and handicrafts made by women artisans. When you buy through this site, ten percent of the proceeds support Women's Edge's Global Opportunity for Women campaign.
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